With Mathias Flückiger (Leimiswil, BE), Alessandra Keller (Ennetbürgen, NW), Vital Albin (Chur, GR), Luke Wiedmann (Bellach, SO) and now also Lars Forster (Rieden, SG), the Thömus-Maxon team has already successfully completed the first races of the season tomorrow Sunday. But the team wants to confirm and even surpass last season's successes. Team boss Ralph Näf has set his sights high: "We are riding for podium places and victories in all categories at the World Cup." In addition to the World Cup races and the national and European championships, the big goals are the World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, in August.

"Starting the new World Cup season as world number one makes me proud. I don't feel under any pressure. It boosts my self-confidence, knowing that I've already done a lot of things right in the past. My goals for the season this year are the big international titles," says Alessandra Keller.

Mathias Flückiger is also confident about the new season: "I'm looking forward to being back on the road with the team and back on the start line. Although I'm extremely happy with my current level of form, I'm currently taking it day by day and not looking too far into the future yet."

"My pre-season preparation went well. In the new season, I want to continue where I left off last year. I want to gradually narrow the gap to the absolute best in the world. My big goal for 2023 is to ride into the top 5 in the Cross-Country World Cup," explains Vital Albin.

Newcomer Lars Forster: "I'm looking forward to starting the season with my new team Thömus-Maxon. A lot, or rather almost everything, is new. The only thing that remains: I want to ride my bike fast! The pre-season preparation went well for me and that's why I'm confident that we can celebrate great successes together."

"Being part of Team Thömus-Maxon is very important to me. I can learn a lot from Alessandra, Mathias, Vital and Lars. After my perfect start to the season with the victory in Banyoles, I am extremely motivated. The World Championships in Glasgow are my big highlight of the season," says Luke Wiedmann, looking forward to the season.Highlights off the track and alternative forms of training

There are other highlights for the Thömus-Maxon team besides the race track. The Swiss team is particularly looking forward to the "Bike Days Disentis" from 9 to 12 July 2023, where all bikers, big or small, ambitious or leisurely, are welcome to explore the wonderful bike region around Disentis with the team. In addition, on Saturday, 15 July, the e-bike challenge on the most beautiful secret trails in Disentis will be a bike happening for amateur athletes.

The Thömus-Maxon team will also be taking an innovative approach to training, focusing on alternative forms of training - with electronic support. With the "Thömus Lightrider E Ultimate", which was developed together with maxon, the team will incorporate the advantages of the lightest e-bike in the world into everyday training time and again.

The "Thömus Akros Youngstars" are growing up

The junior team "Thömus Akros Youngstars" has also evolved for the new season. There is now an U19 team and the U23 Advanced team. The new structures close the gap between the training facility in the youth sector and the professional team.

A total of nine young riders in the U19 and U23 categories wear the red and white colors of the Youngstars. The successes of Monique Halter, last year's U19 world champion, have raised the expectations of team boss Marcel Kuratli: "Despite the double burden of top-class sport and professional training for most of the riders, we are starting ambitiously on Sunday in Gränichen. Last year's successes make us hungry."

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